Wrench having rotatably adjustable outer jaw



Aug 2, 1955 .1. H. BROSEKE 2,714,322

WRENCH HAVING ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE OUTER JAW Filed Jan. 15, 1954 14T/'ORME f United States Patent O WRENCH HAVING ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE OUTER JAW John H. Broseke, Kenton, Ohio Application January 13, 1954, Serial No. 403,873

4 Claims. (Cl. 81-103) This invention relates to improvements in tools and more particularly to an adjustable pipe wrench.

`The principal object of this invention is to provide a wrench of the type employing an adjustable outer jaw, wherein means is provided to hold said adjustable outer jaw in fixed position after a selected adjustment has been made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the character stated employing an adjustable outer jaw, wherein the outer jaw is connected to the wrench proper by threaded means and wherein the threaded portion of the outer jaw is grooved to receive detent means to prevent rotation and adjustment of the outer jaw when the desired adjustment has been made.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable pipe wrench employing an outer jaw adjustably connected with the wrench proper and wherein novel detent means is employed to prevent self adjustment of the outer jaw.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary partial longitudinal sectional View, particularly showing the outer jaw and its carrier.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, particularly through the carrier, of a modified detent.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that Figures l to 5 inclusive show one form of the invention, while Figures 6 to 7 show a slightly modified form.

Numeral 10 denotes an elongated handle having a head portion 11 and this head portion is provided with a Serrated inner jaw 12, which may be formed integrally with the head 11.

Numeral 13 denotes a serrated outer jaw and from this projects a screw threaded shank 14, the inner side portion of which is formed with a longitudinally extending groove 15. This shank 14 extends into a carrier generally referred to by numeral 16. This carrier consists of a tubular formation 17 having a threaded bore 18 therethrough for threadedly receiving the shank 14. This tube 17 has a pair of parallelly spaced and laterally disposed side walls 19, which overlap opposite side portions of the handle head 11.

A pin 20 extends through the side walls 19, 19 and through the head 11 to pivotally connect the carrier 16 to the head 11, so that the carrier is capable of rocking for the purpose of connecting and disconnecting the detent means which will be described hereinafter.

Within the confines of the walls 19, 19 is a compression spring 21, one end of this spring being Vseated within a recess 22 in the side of the head 11 opposed to the tube 17, the tube being likewise formed with a recess 23 for receiving the remaining end of the spring. This spring serves to maintain the carrier, rocked to the position shown in Figures l and 3.

As is clearly shown in Figure 3, a leaf spring 24 has one end secured as at 25 to the head 11 While its opposite end is provided with a tapered pawl 26, which is movable through an opening 27 in the tube 17, to the end that it can engage in the groove 15 of the threaded shank 14.

Normally the jaws 12 and 13 will be in the relation shown in Figures l and 3, due to the eifect of the spring 21. No adjustment of the outer jaw 13 can be ac complished with the parts in this position due to the presence of pawl 26 projecting into the groove 15. In other words the shank 14 cannot be rotated with the pawl in this position.

In order to free the shank 14 so that it can be rotated to permit adjustment toward or away from the fixed jaw 12, the inner end of the carrier 16 is pressed inwardly. In other words at a point outwardly from the spring 21, the carrier is pressed inwardly, which of course moves the outer end of the carrier outwardly and away from the pawl 26, thus freeing the shank 14. The shank -14 with the outer jaw 13 can be now rotated to bring the same into the desired spaced relation with respect to the inner fixed jaw 12.

A modiiication of the invention is shown in Figures 6 and 7. These gures show a handle head 11a provided with a spring 21a interposed between the head 11a and an internally threaded tube 17a which is constructed also with side walls 19a straddling the head 11a. The tube 17a and walls 19a, making up a carrier 16a into which is threaded the shank 14a of an outer jaw (not shown) are pivotally secured as at 20a to the head 11a. The threaded outer jaw shank 14a has a longitudinally extending groove 15a which receives a ball 26a which is located within a seat in the wall of the tube 17a, a leaf spring 24a pressing against the ball to maintain it in the grooves 15a.

Referring to Figure `6, when the inner end of the carrier 16a is pressed inwardly toward 11a, the spring 21a is compressed and this serves to remove the force of the spring 24a from the ball 26a, so the shank 14a of the outer jaw can be rotated to adjust the same properly with respect to the inner xed jaw.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, itis to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the function and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. An adjustable wrench of the character described comprising a handle provided with a fixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw being provided with a threaded shank, a carrier having a threaded bore therein, a pivotal connection between the carrier and the jaw end of the handle, said threaded shank being threadably disposed in the carrier, a detent member carried by the handle, said shank being formed with a longitudinal groove for receiving the detent and spring means interposed between the handle and the carrier to maintain the carrier in a position causing the detent to set in said groove.

2. An adjustable wrench of the character described comprising a handle provided with a xed jaw at one end, a movable jaw being provided with a threaded shank, a carrier having a threaded bore therein, a pivotal connection between the carrier and the jaw end of the handle, said threaded shank being threadably disposed in the carrier, a detent member carried by the handle, said shank being formed with a longitudinal groove for receiving the detent and spring means interposed between the handle and the carrier to maintain the carrier in a position causing the detent to set in said groove, said detent being in the form of a spring pressed ball.

3. An adjustable wrench of the character described comprising a handle provided with a lixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw being provided with a threaded shank, a carrier having a threaded bore therein, a pivotal connection between the carrier and the jaw end of the handle, said threaded shank being threadably disposed in the carrier, a detent member carried by the handle,

said shank being formed with a longitudinal groove for receiving the detent and spring means interposed between the handle and the carrier to maintain the carrier in a position causing the detent to set in said groove, said detent consisting of a leaf spring having one end attached to the handle and a pawl at the other end of the spring projecting into the groove.

4. An adjustable wrench of the character described comprising a handle provided with a iixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw being provided with a threaded shank, a carrier having a threaded bore therein, a pivotal connection between the carrier and the jaw end of the handle, said threaded shank being threadably disposed in the carrier, a detent member carried by the handle, said shank being formed with a longitudinal groove for receiving the detent and spring means interposed between the handle and the carrier to maintain the carrier in a position causing the detent to set in said groove, said detent consisting of a socket inthe carrier, a ball in the socket and a spring carried by the handle and pressing against the ball to maintain the same normally Within the groove of the shank.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 65,111 Oroner May 28, 1867 482,527 Porter Sept. 13, 1892 804,831 Cunnius Nov. 21, 1905 

